Omaha Beach Assault

Scenario documents:

Omaha Assault.doc

Landing Plan Sections.xls

Turn 1:

Most of the DD tanks were delayed with only one platoon arriving and of that only one tank actually arrived on table as the others either drifted off table or sunk during the approach.

The Gemans obviously couldn't believe their eyes at the solitary 'landing craft' slowly ploughing through the waves and failed to fire anything!

Turn 2:

The solitary DD tank reached the shore and dropped its screen and was closely followed by the remainder of the DD tanks arriving along with the LCTs. Unfortunately all of the LCAs carrying the assault infantry were either late or very late. This could all go horibbly wrong for the US but the effect of the units drifting to the left of their intended targets was actually going to work in their favour as it put a lot of units out of range of some of the German heavy weapons.

However, the US player ned not have worried as the German FAO failed to call in any artillery probably due to headquarters doubting his report. Further German disbelief resulted in none of the main defence weapons apart from a couple of medium mortars actually firing! Rummors later circulated that the US troops reported at this stage that the beach appeared quiet and undefended.

Turn 3: 

The US forces then proceeded to shock the Germans by beaching six more DD tanks and two LCTs one of which promptly off loaded two more Shermans and a dozer. As the Shermans fired at the 88mm ATG in the large bunker, the dozer attempted to clear its first beach obstacle. The US player was surprised and pleased at being the first to fire. This sudden activity on the beach awoke the Germans who used opportunity fire from the various ATGs to destroy the dozer and damage some of the other Shermans. This burst of firing caused the US units on the second LCT to pause for thought and not disembark!

During the German turn the FAO successfully ordered the heavy artillery to fire at one of their pre-defined fire points. However, nothing happen as headquarters were suddenly aware of the true situation and had ordered the guns to fire at a another target on a different beach. The FAOs also failed to call in any of the other artillery and it was all looking far too organised on the beach from the German players point of view. However, the German ATGs opened up and destroyed three Shermans and suppressing some others.

Turn 4:

In an effort to make a start clearing obstacles the second dozer raced forward and was shot to pieces by the opportunity fire of the ATGs. In return the Shermans fired at and suppressed the 88mm ATG in its bunker and almost knocked it out! The bulk of the delayed LCAs started to approach the shore.

German FAOs managed to call in the 105mm battery but only managed to suppress a few targets. However, seeing their opportunity the unsuppressed ATGs fired at the suppressed landing craft and blew it out of the water! Being suppressed, the 88mm ATG cleared away the damage and waited for the dust to settle.

Turn 5:

It was obvious that the fate of the LCA caused a few hearts to wobble with most of the US command units failing to issue any orders. However, the tanks did fire and managed a further four hits on the 88mm ATG and thus again narrowly failed to knock it out, and didn't even suppress it. The first group of SETF engineer units landed and moved up to the obstacles.

The Germans, believing this was their chance, opened fire with the 88mm ATG and damaged on of the Shermans but then was destroyed by the sudden burst of opportunity fire from all the remaining Shermans! A plume of red flame burst of the bunker and was cheered by the US forces. The remaining German units attempted to revenge the loss of the 88 and successfully knocked out a couple of Shermans. The artillery again failed to fire although a battery of 120mm mortars did inflict some suppressions on the approaching LCAs. More importantly for the Germans, the infantry on the top of the bluff opened fire and wiped out the advancing engineers.

Turn 6:

US command rolls this turn were poor and left most LCAs just yards from the shore but unable to unload! Wanting to try and help protect the next wave of engineers the Shermans fired at the German infantry. Despite being in extra tough trenches the concentrated fire knocked out one of the HMG teams.

The German FAO called in both the 105mm artillery and 120mm mortars but failed to inflict much harm on the mainly armoured targets. Also, by this time most of the targets were at long range and with only getting  one command roll per command they failed to cause much damage.

Turn 7:

This time the US player managed to get some infantry ashore but the tide was already lapping at the obstacles and space was tight! The Shermans managed to knock out one infantry unit and suppress some others. The second group of SETF engineer units came ashore and made it to the obstacle but then failed their command roll.

Unfortunately for the Germans their command systems on their right flank and in the centre failed to function this turn and the remaining fire did little damage. However, the German CO successfully managed to order some reinforcements to move up towards the beach on the right flank. Despite the poor performance the Germans were about to get a big advantage: The tide was in and things were about to get very difficult for the US forces.

Turn 8:

With the advancing tide the US units were in danger of being swamped if gaps in the obstacles were not opened soon. Most of the LCAs were still struggling to land and as the few units that had landed rushed towards the shore they were mowed down by German opportunity fire despite some suppression caused by the Shermans. The SETF engineer units then failed to act and their fate was sealed.

The German commanders finally got most of their act together and called down the 105s, the 120mm mortars and the single use rocket pits. This intense firing caused multiple hits and suppressions on all sorts of units. The additional firing from the ATGs destroyed another Sherman and small arms fire from the infantry eliminated the engineer units and losses on the advancing infantry.

END OF GAME:

At this stage it was decided to end the game with the US forces having taken heavy losses in tanks and engineers and still trapped behind the obstacles. Back to the drawing board for the US planners. Upon reflection both players felt that the US needed some more time to create gaps in the outer row of obstacles and that some of the specialised rules needed amending. Overall a very pleasing first attempt.